Saturday was a really great day for me and lovely wife. Not only did I score over 50 bucks at a local casino but I got to see two (count ‘em!) movies; and if that wasn’t good enough, I actually enjoyed both movies!
Get Smart
Someone called me up and said, “They’re making a movie of ‘Get Smart.’ ” I said, “Oh, really? What are they going to call it?” They said, “‘Get Smart.’ ” I said, “That was wise.” Because they did do a movie based on “Get Smart” about 20 years ago called “The Nude Bomb.” I said, “That’s foolish.” – Mel Brooks on the new Get Smart movie.
Because they did do a movie based on “Get Smart” about 20 years ago called “The Nude Bomb.” I said, “That’s foolish.”
First up was Get Smart. I don’t want to get into this by expressing what a big fan of the TV show I am. I’m sure every Tom, Dick, and Don Adams reviewing this movie is telling you that. Just know that when Get Smart (the series) debuted on Nick at Nite (a marathon called “Maximum Smart” way back in 1991) I watched every single half hour of it that week. And I had already seen them all by then.
And now finally the dream of Get Smart on the big screen is realised. Oh sure, we had The Nude Bomb already but let’s all try to forget that happened, okay?
For the millinium Smart we now have Steve Carrell filling the big shows of CONTROL agent Maxwell Smart. Perfect casting. In fact if you are familiar with the old show you might think that the casting all around is great. Alan Arkin is The Chief, Anne Hathaway is Agent 99, and Bill Murray has a cameo as Agent 13 (not used well, but they tried there). The character of Larabee has been changed from The Chief’s goofy assistant in the show, to an antagonistic agent in the movie. I’m sure some purists would balk at this, but really I don’t think it matters.
The story concerns the first outing of Maxwell Smart as an agent of CONTROL. He’s been working there for years as an analyst(!) and after a breakin by the evil counteragency KAOS he gets put into action. From there he is teamed up with Agent 99 and it’s off to one action comedy set piece to another.
The movie moves along at a brisk pace and even though it changes Max’s character considerably, (sure he was a goof in the old series but he was also CONTROL’s best agent not a nerdy analyst wishing for action) the movie for the most part does work. It’s fun and funny in a goofy way and when Max does prove he is up to the task you do believe it. Fans of the series will love seeing the cone of silence, the shoe phone, and even the portable cone of silence makes an appearance. Plus one cameo from the old show pops up (I won’t say who). Also in one sequence Carrell ends up driving each one of the cars Max drove in the various opening credits in the series. Gotta love that.
The Incredible Hulk
The back end of the double feature for me was The Incredible Hulk. I’ll be very honest with you, while I thought this movie looked pretty good I wasn’t all that interested. Something about the Hulk just doesn’t work for me. Maybe that unlike say Spider-Man, I couldn’t relate at all to the Hulk, a regular guy who when he gets mad turns into a giant green lunatic.
But being a huge Marvel fan and I did enjoy the television show so how could I not see this movie. And as I thought, I did enjoy it.
First off there is a freaking title sequence to start things off. Always glad to see that. And while we did have a Hulk movie in 2003, this movie pretty much just ignores that one altogether. It starts off with Bruce Banner (Edward Norton) hiding out in Brazil. The title sequence tells us how he became the Hulk and how General “Tunderbolt” Ross (William Hurt) is sparing no expense in hunting him down. Ross’s interest in Banner is purely a military reason. Banner was working with the military on making a “super soldier serum” and tested it on himself, thus making him the Hulk. It wasn’t ready dammit! Anyway now Ross wants Banner, hell the Hulk BELONGS to the military according to him.
Complicating matters is Ross’s daughter and Banner’s love interest Betty (Liv Tyler). While Banner is doing his best to stay hidden and out of site he can’t help but be drawn out into the open by Betty. Also in the mix is Tim Roth as Ross’s best soldier on his way to being even better and Tim Blake Nelson as a wacky scientist with an interest in Banner’s unique situation.
Norton, who allegedly re-wrote much of the screenplay, really reminded me of Bill Bixby’s David Banner from the late 70s tv show version of the Hulk. Never understood why he was named David instead of Bruce though. But that show really had a great ability to make you empathize with Banner and his situation. Norton is able to achieve the same feelings here. It’s no small feat and he really does a great job. Also impressive is Hurt as the all too driven Ross. Another great character role for Hurt who has really seemed to revitalize his career the past few years.
This movie felt like a great combo of the old show and the comic book and really that is how it should be. Not only does Lou Ferrigno show up but even the late Bixby gets some screen time as well. There’s not much more you can ask for really.
